Sara Dobie Bauer is one of my favorite romance writers and we’re all in luck because her novella, Escaping Exile, is available now! The first in a trilogy, Escaping Exile introduces us to a vampire trapped on an island for his crimes where the last thing he expects to find is the love of his very long life.

I can’t recommend Sara Dobie Bauer’s work enough! Her characters are deep and complicated, making their love stories the same.

My review is available on Goodreads and below is my interview with the author, all the links you might need, and an excerpt from Escaping Exile!

I started off this interview by nosily asking for a picture of Sara Dobie Bauer’s work space and a description because I can’t be the only one that loves to see where people write. Can I? No. No? No!

I overlook King Street in Small Town Ohio, so I’m basically like Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window watching and judging all my neighbors, although I haven’t witnessed a murder yet. Passerby probably think I’m the neighborhood maniac; people who’ve met me know I’m the neighborhood maniac.

What does your writing process look like? Do you listen to music? Have a special cup?

It’s a lot of me typing, deleting, and staring at walls. Honestly, as a full time writer, my entire life is just weird. I wake up at seven and start work at eight. The morning is reserved for creative endeavors—either the novel I’m currently writing or maybe a short story or editing. The afternoons are for marketing work and journalism. I work in utter silence. The only sound is me talking to my dogs. I have three special coffee cups, and they’re all huge. One is of the Harry Potter Marauder’s Map; the other is Jack Skellington’s huge head; and the third says “Resting Witch Face.”

Coffee, tea or something else?

Coffee with honey. I wish I was one of those writers who could artfully sip whiskey while writing, but I have to be stone sober.

If you were stranded on an island and could only choose one book to have with you, which one would it be?

No fair! I protest this question! If I could have my Kindle and miraculously plug into a wireless network, I would be quite content on Archive of Our Own. I’ve been reading so much Call Me By Your Name fan fiction lately because I want the movie to have a happy ending—and its doesn’t, okay? If I had to choose a single book … nope, I can’t. Something by Rainbow Rowell or KJ Charles or!!! What about the entire Harry Potter series? I might be able to live with that.

How long do you think you’d survive being shipwrecked?

Is there rum? If there’s rum, I could last awhile. Are Andrew and Edmund there? If I could watch them have sex (and hopefully join), I could last a lot longer.

This isn’t the first of your books I’ve read, and I can’t help but notice a certain toothy theme. What do you think draws you to vampires? When did the bloody love affair start?

The bloody love affair started when I read Interview with the Vampire in sixth grade. Probably a bit young for that, but … anyway. Vampires are usually beautiful, charming, ageless, sexually fluid, and a bit androgynous. (I love androgyny.) I can get down on all those things. There’s also something super erotic about being bitten. TMI?

About the author:

Sara Dobie Bauer is a bestselling author, model, and mental health / LGBTQ advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. Twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize, she lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film. She is author of the paranormal rom-com Bite Somebody series, among other sexy things. Learn more at http://SaraDobieBauer.com.

(Photo by Steph Gentry)

About Escaping Exile:

Andrew is a vampire from New Orleans, exiled to a tropical island in the 1800s as punishment for his human bloodlust. During a storm, a ship crashes off shore. After rescuing a sailor from the cannibals native to the land, Andrew becomes fascinated with his brilliant, beautiful new companion, Edmund.

Edmund is a British naturalist who has sailed the world seeking new species. Intrigued by creatures that might kill him, immortal Andrew is this scientist’s dream—but so is making his way back home. Edmund will fight to survive, even while wrapped in the arms of a monster.

As light touches and laughter turn to something much more passionate, the cannibals creep ever closer to Edmund. Can the ancient vampire keep his human alive long enough to escape exile and explore their newfound love, or will Andrew’s bloodlust seal his own doom?

I barely notice the falling of night, but here we are in the dark again. My fingers have mapped almost every inch of him by now as his bruises continue to spread. I’ve just about resigned myself to never hearing him sigh when he gasps awake.

He sits up and sucks air into his lungs as if he’s spent the past two days drowning. I keep my hands on his shoulders and see that his eyes are light—some shade of gray or bright blue like the sea.

“You’re all right,” I say.

“Bollocks,” he gasps. Then he chokes, and I hurry to get him water from the large rain bucket outside. He gulps down a cup before wiping the back of his hand over his mouth and staring up at me. “Where…” His eyes glaze over. “The ship!” He tosses the blankets back and stands with no concern for his nudity. I’m there to catch him when he almost falls over.

“You need to sit.” I push him back down to the edge of my bed and sit in the chair nearby.

He winces and bends forward. “Christ, I hurt everywhere. I…” He squeezes his eyes shut.

I now know not only the color of those eyes but also the sound of his voice: velvet with a touch of smoke. I want to hear that voice calling my name. Also, he’s English, which truly does make me wonder where the hell Michelle found this ridiculous island for my exile. Where in God’s name are we? My sailor will probably be just as confused as I when he realizes I’m American, but he seems too confused by other things at the moment to care.

“Where am I?”

I want to laugh but don’t. “Your ship crashed on the reef last night. I found you on the beach.”

“I was on deck,” he says without looking at me. “Mapping the stars.” His tongue pokes out to lick his lips. “There was a noise, and then… My head, I think…” He reaches for his forehead, but I grab his wrist to stop him.

“Don’t. You have an open wound.”

“Oh. That would explain the hammering in my skull. The rest of the crew?”

I shake my head. “I didn’t find anyone else.”

He covers his face with his hands and says with vehemence, “Fuck.”

The word from his mouth makes me smile. I’ve always found the British to be a charming, self-deprecating people, but of their propriety, I have been less than enthused. My sailor seems on the more colorful spectrum. And his comfort with nudity is a welcome relief. If I had my way, the man would never wear clothes.